Doreen Royer Lietzke
Doreen Royer Lietzke of
Naples, formerly of Newton, passed away Thursday (Oct. 2, 2008). Doreen was
born on March 15, 1933, in Newton. Born to Ella and Alvin Royer, she was one of
12 children growing up in a rural farming community. Doreen graduated from
Newton High School, then went on to graduate from Wesley Hospital School of
Nursing in 1953. Two days after graduating from nursing school, she married her
high school sweetheart, Bob Lietzke, on Sept. 6, 1953, at Evangelical Brethren
Church in Newton. Bob and Doreen began their life together and soon moved to
the Drumright/Cushing, Okla., area, where all four of their children were born.
Doreen had a lifelong passion
of helping others, which is evident by her more than 50 years of nursing. She
began working in a small doctor's office and soon blossomed into a progressive
career working in hospitals from the oil fields of Oklahoma to the large and
prestigious, including UCLA, Georgetown and Yale. She also worked for a time in
public health and school nursing.
After spending 14 years in
Bartlesville, Okla., working at Jane Phillips Medical Center, she and Bob began
an exciting 12-year adventure by accepting job assignments that took them
throughout the United States, including Hawaii, until they settled in Naples in
2000.
Doreen always was active in
the communities in which she lived. She served as president of the Oklahoma
Lung Association, and she and Bob taught smoking-cessation classes together.
Even though she often was
recognized for her numerous honors and accomplishments, her greatest joy in
life came from her family.
She is survived by her
husband, Bob, of the home; daughters, Robin (Randy) Garland of Owasso, Okla.,
and Jama (Hal) Brandom of Jacksonville, Fla.; sons, Scott Lietzke of Lake
Forest, Calif., and Jay Lietzke of Naples; grandchildren, Drew Brandom, Reed Garland,
Blair Brandom, Sarah Lietzke and Sam Lietzke; special daughters, Cheryl
Lietzke, Marianne Lietzke and Janice Beman; sisters, Evelyn Lawrence of Newton,
Betty Smith of Newton, and Helen Welborn of Kansas City; brothers Gary (Bonnie)
Royer of Newton, and Max (Helen) Royer of Phoenix; and many precious nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in death by
her parents; two infant sisters; and four brothers, Leonard, Keith, Gaylon and
Kenneth.
A memorial service
celebrating her life will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 16 at Broadway Colonial Funeral
Home, 120 E. Broadway in Newton.
The family suggests in lieu
of flowers, donations be made to the American Lung Association (go to
www.lungusa.org and click on 'Donate') or to the charity of your choice.
The funeral home's online
guest book can be signed at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
